Automatic playing mechanism in pianos.



No. 844,985. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

- P. WUEST, JR.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING MECHANISM IN PIANOS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

.WIITNESSES: j 1 INVENTOR:

UNITED sTATEs PATENT orrron.

PHILIP VVUESI, J R., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE.

AUTO-MANUAL PIANO ACTION COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PEN N SYL- VANIA, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING MECHANISM IN PIANO S Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Applioatioii'filed May 19. 1904. Serial No. 203,766;

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP -Wunsr, J12,- of

Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, I

have invented certain new and useful Improvements "in Automatic PlayingMechanism in Pianos, whereof the following is'a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

- operativevrelation with their sounding de- My invention relates topianos, organs, and similar mstruments compr sing automatic playingmechanlsm permanently ad usted in vicesfor instance, mechanism of theclass controlled by a web ofperforated paper which is progressed withrespect to a pneumatic tracker-bar provided with a series of a erturescorresponding with a series of soun -'ng devices in the instrument. Insuch instruments as ordinarily constructed the" strike pneumatic motorsof the automatic playing mechanism are designed to he supported by thekey-bed, and their connection ,with the latter is necessary precedingthe adjustment of the playing mechanism in relation to the'hammer-action of the instrument. Such construction and arrangement is offurther disadvantage in that whenever'it is necessary to remove thekey-bed the playing .mechanism must be disconnected from the hammer-action, and readjustment of the same is necessitated upon reassembhng thedevices. Moreover, any disturbance of the relation of the piano casing01 key-bed with respect to the piano-actionioi instance, by expansion orcontraction of the wooden partsof course disturbs the adjustment of theautomatic playing mechanism. There fore it is an object of my inventionto provide automatic playing mechanism of the class described soconstructed and arranged that when adjusted in operative connection withthe action of the instrument which it is to play it is sofar-independent of the instrument casing and key-bed that the latter maybe removed to facilitate repairs, &c., without disturbing the adjustmentof said mechanism.

A further ob'ect of my invention is to provide'combine hammer-actionsand automatic playing mechanisms which may be made and-marketedindependently of piano string-flames and casings and dye inserted andremoved with respect to the latter with the same facility as ordinary piano-actions.

The aforesaid objectsare attained, as here- 'inafter described, byproviding automatic playing mechanism which is arranged to be supportedupon the metal string-frame of a piano independentl of the wooden casingand key bed, an preferably comprising metal frames which are eitherintegrally connected with or secured to the metal frames of thepiano-action, so as to be conveniently supported and adjusted withrespect to the latter withont'regard to the key-bed. Such constructionis advantageous, first. in that all of .thenecessary adjustments oftheplaying mechanism with respect to the hammeraction may be primarilyeffected before said devices are inserted in the piano-casing; second,the relative eX ansion and contraction of. the casing and ey-bed withrespect to the pi ano-action does not afiect the ad justment of thehammer-action with respect to theplaying mechanism, and, third, anyadjustments or repairs of -theinstrument reguiring the removal of thekey-bed do not playing mechanism shown in Fig. I. Fig.

II shows a modified form of my invention wherein the side frames of thepiano-action and playing mechanism are relatively independent, althoughprovided with common supports extending from themetallic stringframeFig. IV is a fragmentary front elevation showing the adjustableconnection between the action-frame and playing-mechanism frame shown inside elevation in Fig. III.

In said drawings the piano-casing 1 com-v prises the key-bed 2, on whichthe digitals 3 are supported by the balance-rail 4. Each of saiddigitals 3 is provided with an adjust-- able stud 5 in operativerelation with an extension-rod 6, depending from the jack-v whip andpivoted to an extension-lever 8, iulcrumed on the small action-rail 9 inconnection with a hammer 10., arranged to strike the string 11 on themetallic string frame 12, which latter is provided with the usual woodenback supports 13 and sounding board 15. Said casing" 1 also comprisesthe usual upper lid 17, the removable front panel 18, inclosing theaction, the hinged cover for the manual comprising the digitals 3,'andthe'removable front panel 21., inclosing the chamber 22 below thekey-bed2, in which chamber the main bellows, chest, &c., of the playingmechanism may be conveniently mounted. However, the last named parts ofthe playing mechanism may be of ordinary construction, and therefore areomitted from the drawings.

' Referring to Fig. I, the vertical metal frames 25 (of whichtherearetwo on opposite ends of the piano-action) are mounted on the studs orbrackets 26 and 27, extending from the metal string-frame 12. Saidframes 25. 'incloseiand support the group of three pneumatic-valveshelves 30, which are also conveniently connected by the end strips 31and bolt-s32, the latter being engaged with the respectively upper andlower frame members'33 and 34. veniently supports a series of levers 36,corresponding with theseries of digitals 3 and each provided with anadjustable stud 37, operatively connected by a rod 38 with an arm 39 onthe hammer-action rod 6. Each of said shelves is provided with a seriesof respectively independent strike pneumatic motors 41, and theindividual motors of the three groups respectively local to said threeshelves 30 are each connected by a rod 42 with one ofthe series oflevers 36, so as to uplift it, and thus effect the operation of thehammer 10 connected therewith whenever its motor 41 is exhausted andcollapsed. The means for effecting the above .described v action of themotors 41 may, as aforesaid, in:

clude a pneumatic tracker-bar controlled by the traverse of a perforatedpaper web; but I have omitted such devices from the drawings, as it isto be understood that any suitable means may be employed to insure theoperation of the playing mechanism.

The hammer-action and playing mechanism being supported in the endframes 25, which are common to both devices, all of the relativeadjustments of said devices required to render them cooperative may beeffected before they are inserted in the piano- I casing 1 in engagementwith the brackets 26 and 27, and to facilitate the insertion, preciseadjustment, and removal of said frames 25 they are conveniently providedwith hemispherical sockets 43 at their lower ends, which are fitted uponVertically-adjustable studs 44, having correspondingly shaped upperends. The upper ends 45 of said frames 25 are conveniently bifurcated toembrace the screw-threaded ends of the brackets 'l'heframe member 33,con- 26 and are secured thereon by the nuts 46. Although I find itconvenient to employ said side frames 25, which are common to both thepianoaction and the pneumatic playing mechanism, as above described. theplaying mechanism may be supported directly from the metallic stringframe 12 without permanent relation to the hammeraction. For instance,the hammer-action may be provided with end frames 50, as shown in Fig.III, supported by brackets 51 and 52, projecting from the metal:string-frame 53, and retained by nuts 55 and 56, and the playingmechanism may be provided with opposite end frames 57, whose bifurcatedupper ends 58 are supported by the brackets 52 in engagement with saidnuts 56, and whose socketed lower ends 59 are supported by the brackets60 in engagement with the vertically-adjustable studs 61.

The construction last described isadvantageous in that the adjustmentbetween the hammer-action and the playing mechanism may not only beeffected (like the other construction described) regardless of thekeybed 2, and, in fact, before either the action or the playingmechanism is inserted in the instrument, but also because either devicemay be afterward removed independently of the other and withoutdisturbing their cooperas tive relation, which relation may be restoredby replacing said frames in the adjusted relation shown in Fig. III, itbeing noted that the rods 38 of the hammer-action merely rest upon thestuds 37 of the playing mechanism, so that said two devices may bereadily separated. Moreover, in the arrangement shown in Fig. III theplaying mechanism may be adjusted as a whole toward and away from thehammer-action as distinguished from the form shown in Fig. II, whereinthey are permanently related, it being noted that the upper ends 58 ofthe frames 57 comprise elongated slots or notches 63 to receive thebrackets 52, as shown in Fig. IV.

Although in the form of my invention chosen for illustration only threeseparable valve-shelves 30 are shown in the group supported on thestring-frame 12, it is to be understood that other parts of the playingmechanism, such as themain bellows, 850., may be similarly supported;but of course it is not necessary to maintain suchelements in preciserelation with the hammer-action, like the strike-motors 41, and suchelements may be conveniently supported upon the floor of the outercasing 1. t

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of constructionand arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that variousmodifications maybe made therein without departing from the essentialfeatures of my invention.

I'claim 1. In a'piano, the combination with agme- IOC tallicstring-frame; of an automatic playing ,tallic string-frame; of abracket'projecting mechanism, supported by said stringframeindependently of the key-bed, substantially as set forth.

I 2. In a piano, the combination with a me from said frame; and, anautomatic playing mechanism supported by said bracket, substantially asset forth.

3. In a piano, the combination with a metallic string-frame; of abracket projecting from said string-frame; an automaticplaying'mechanism. supported by said bracket; and, means adjustablyconnecting said bracket with said mechanism, substantially set forth. 4.In a piano, the combination with a metallic string-frame; of a bracketprojecting I from said string-frame; an automatic playing mechanism'supported by said bracket; and, means adjustably connecting said Ibracket with said mechanism, comprising an adjustable screw-"stud,pivotally connected with said mechanism, substantially as set 1 forth.

5; In piano, the combination with a stringeframe rovidedwith bracketsabove and below t 1e key-bed; of metallic side frames supported by saidbrackets; and, a hammer-action and automatic playing mechanism supportedin cooperative relation in said side frames, substantially as set forth.

6. In a piano, the combination with a metallic string-frame; ,of ahammer-action; automatic playing mechanism operatively connected withsaid hammer-action; mctallic side frames supporting said action and lmechanism in cooperative relation; and, means on said string-framesupporting said i a l i l l l l side frames independently of thekey-bed, substantially as set forth.

7. In a piano, the combination .with a metallic string-frame; of abracket projecting from said string-frame; a hammer-action provided withside frames; automatic playing mechanism provided with side frames; and,means common, to'the side frames of said action and playing mechanism,connecting them in relatively adjustable relation to said string-frame,substantially as set forth.

8. In a piano, the combination With a metallic string-frame; of ahammer-action; automatic pneumatic playing mechanism operativelyconnected with said hammeraction; metallic side frames supporting saidaction and mechanism in cooperative relation; and, means on saidstring-frame supporting said side frames independently of t e key-bed,substantially as set forth.

9. In a piano, the combination with a metallic string-frame;, of abracket projecting from said string-frame; a hammer-action provided withside frames; automatic pneumatic playing mechanism provided With sideframes; and, means common to the side frames of said action and playingmechanism, connecting them in relatively adjustable re lation to saidstring-frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto. signed my name, at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 17th day of May, 1904. Y

PHILIP WUEST, JR.

Witnesses: I

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, ANNA F. GE ZFREAD.

